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James Hird may wish that the events of the last few years could have been as quick and forgettable as yesterday’s first quarter.
According to Champion Data it was the shortest quarter since they first began taking stats in 1999.
Incredibly, this is one of only five quarters, out of nearly 13,000, that have run under 24 minutes.
Once the Bulldogs came out of the shadows of this ugly one-goal term, inspired by former Bomber Stuart Crameri they bolstered their top eight claims (even an outside sniff at a top four spot) with an emphatic win and a decent percentage booster to boot.
The match itself is a wonderful contrast of the plight of the two teams, where it would be fair to say many experts may have had switched around in their pre-season analysis of ladder positions.
Considering the number of players the Bulldogs have lost over the last couple of years, coach Luke Beveridge must also be extremely close to having one hand on coach of the year honours.
The Dogs have lost the likes of Lake, Griffin, Cooney, Ward, Higgins and Jones over the last couple of years (not to mention the retirement of Giansiracusa).
On top of their backroom board and CEO dramas, and it looked like in 2015 they would be on a similar trajectory to clubs such as Carlton and Saint Kilda in heading south down the ladder.
However, the inspiring decision to name the club’s heart and soul Bob Murphy as skipper, invigorating the game plan with an attacking style that takes the game on through the centre, the Doggies have amazed many and have a bright future. The Saints, while not quite as successful, have also pleased with progress.
Conversely, it is time to talk about Essendon – and thankfully not about supplements. They have now been touched up badly by the Bullies and also the Saints in recent weeks and the game-plan looks sick.
James Hird seemed to extract something more positive coming out of the match against Port a week ago – an entertaining game where, despite the loss, the team unearthed some exciting young talent (examples being Jayden Laverde and Kyle Langford ending the night with two goals each), while also kicking their highest score of the season.
From a coaching perspective, why return to a defensive mind-set this week when so many positives?
Next, Hird all season has looked lost in how to treat his key posts – particularly with such a talented defensive group.
Instead of building a defensive structure around Hurley, Hooker and Carlilse – Hird does not know where to play them back or forward, and without continuity their development has significantly stifled over 2014-15.
Tayte Pears is another in this category – although he is struggling for first-team football and appears to be on the outer.
As a left-field idea, 2015 could have been the opportunity to have thrown Dustin Fletcher forward as a key target and mentor to young Daniher, and begin afresh with a new mindset.
The recruiting strategies must also be called into question.
The Bombers have deliberately targeted seasoned veterans such as Goddard, Chapman and Cooney – each have played roles without being game-changers, and all are beyond their prime.
While it could be argued that they have certainly plugged holes, why bring them in when they should have invested in youth? James Gwilt could not get a game in a struggling St Kilda team – why he is still playing beyond his early-season role where he was brought in to cover in the wake of the pre-season hearings associated with ASADA?
I would suggest Hird has over-valued his existing talent, particularly midfield depth.
Finally, why wait until Round 18 to play Jonathon Giles when the ruck has been a disaster all season? Losing Paddy Ryder to Port was significant, but with Bellchambers and McKernan either injured or ineffective, it is a perplexing decision particularly when he was recruited deliberately to play the second ruck/key forward role.
Ironically, although Ryder walked out and the Dogs paid ‘overs’ for Crameri, it must have hurt that they both have kicked 11 goals between them against the Dons the last fortnight.
It is time that James Hird needs to see the writing on the wall for his coaching career – from a footballing sense the team needs a fresh start.
Often when a young team struggles fans at least can see some hope with passionate players who have a crack but are let down by poor skills or rash decision-making.
However this Bombers team is listless. The supplements scandal has no doubt drained the players, but any ‘backs to the wall’ sense of competitiveness Hird got out his group in the wake of the process has dissipated over the last few months.
The message that we can get through this together no longer is cutting the mark.
While there is a another year on a lucrative contract to go, the Essendon legend must make what is the toughest call of his career, and hand the reigns over to someone fresh outside the Bombers inner sanctum.
However unlikely this notion at present, the club will benefit from the fresh start with an opportunity to regenerate a list and give fans a sense of optimism – much like Messrs Beveridge and Richardson have achieved with their clubs so well in 2015.
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